Massachusetts has some of the strictest gun laws in the United States.  Even the most law abiding citizen can make an honest mistake. unfortunately an honest mistake can easily lead to the deprivation of your right to keep and bear arms.  If you own guns and you are planning to move to Massachusetts, then you should immediately schedule a consultation with us.  

Lawful gun owners from out of state can be subject to criminal prosecution for bringing their weapons into Massachusetts.  There are no grace periods, and Massachusetts takes violations of its gun laws very seriously.

WAYS TO LAWFULLY POSSESS FIREARMS IN MASS.

LTC

License To Carry (“LTC”):  carrying a firearm is only permissible in MA if you have an “unrestricted” LTC.  The decision to issue your LTC with or without restrictions rests entirely with your chief of police (a.k.a. “licensing authority”).  Your licensing authority can issue your LTC but impose restrictions such as “Target & Hunting,” “Sporting,” or “Employment.”  Each of these restrictions come with different rights.

FID Card

Firearms Identification Card (“FID Card”):  an FID Card entitles you to possess non-large capacity shotguns or rifles (that are not otherwise prohibited by law).  It also entitles you to possess a non-large capacity handgun in the home. But, you must have purchased that handgun with a valid Permit To Purchase (“PTP”) or you had possession of the firearm in the home prior to the enactment of the 1998 Gun Control Act.  An FID Card does not entitle the holder to possess large capacity weapons or large capacity feeding devices.

WHAT DOES LARGE CAPACITY MEAN?

Large Capacity Feeding Device

A large capacity feeding device is any fixed or detachable magazine, box, drum, feed strip, or similar device capable of accepting, or can be readily converted to accept, more than ten rounds of ammunition or more than five shotgun shells.  This definition does not include an attached tubular device designed to accept, an capable of operating only with, .22 caliber ammunition.

Large Capacity Weapon

A large capacity weapon is any handgun, rifle, or shotgun:

1. that is semiautomatic with a fixed large capacity feeding device;
2. that is semiautomatic and capable of accepting, or readily modifiable to accept, any detachable large capacity feeding device;
3. that employs a rotating cylinder capable of accepting more than ten rounds of ammunition in a rifle or firearm and more than five shotgun shells; or
4. that is an assault weapon.

See General Laws c. 140, § 121 for the definition of “assault weapon.”